Page:Arthur Machen - The Hill of Dreams.djvu/51

THE HILL OF DREAMS 'I am afraid they are,' he replied. 'I was quite grieved at the last Diocesan Conference at the way in which he spoke. The dear old bishop had given an address on Auricular Confession; he was forced to do so, you know, after what had happened, and I must say that I never felt prouder of our beloved Church.'

Mr. Dixon told all the Homeric story of the conference, reciting the achievements of the champions, 'deploring' this and applauding that. It seemed that Mr. Taylor had had the audacity to quote authorities which the bishop could not very well repudiate, though they were directly opposed to the 'safe' episcopal pronouncement.

Mrs. Dixon of course was grieved; it was 'sad' to think of a clergyman behaving so shamefully.

'But you know, dear,' she proceeded, 'I have been thinking about that unfortunate Taylor boy and his disappointments, and after what you've just told me, I am sure it's some kind of judgment on them both. Has Mr. Taylor forgotten the vows he took at his ordination? But don't you think, dear, I am right, and that he has been punished: "The sins of the fathers"?'

Somehow or other Lucian divined this atmosphere of threatenings and judgments, and shrank 41